3-12-12

today God made a metaphorical lesson into real life.
i just finished reading the book 1000 gifts. it was amazing. and its focus was noticing and counting the joys God places in front of you, like for instance,
the sound of the keys as i type,
or the feeling of warm air in this room..
anyways, i read how these little joys add up, and how they always give you something to hold on to, look to, even in the hard times..
WELL...
this morning i wake up...sick...
but i have to go take a quiz for class,
one i was sure i was going to fail
but i throw on some clothes and go anyway.
as i walk, i count the blessings..
...rain..
..wind....
..laughter as the umbrella fails to do its work..
i settle into my desk, and take the quiz
i actually know ALL the answers! another blessing.
as i walk out of the building and into the storm, i see a leaf on the ground
i immediately know its for me. i pick it up, i thank God.
as i walk back to my dorm i am amazed at wind, and rain, i am in love with it.
as i approach the door i realize i forgot my key..
this turned into 30 minutes of standing outside my dorm in the storm..
all the while holding onto my leaf..
never letting go of the smallest joys, even when i was stuck in a storm.
literally.

Captivating Quotes

"Beauty is, without question, the most essential and the most misunderstood of all God's qualities"

"There is a radiance hidden in your heart that the world desperately needs"

"we are not living in the world our souls were made for"

"the wounds you have received have come to you for a purpose from one who knows all you are meant to be and fears you"

"we dont feel that we are irreplaceable, so we try and make ourselves useful"

"Renounce the agreements we made with the messages of our wounds"

"A woman becomes beautiful when she knows she's loved... This doesn't need to wait for a man... God longs to bring this into your life Himself."

"Following hard after JESUS is the heart's natural response when it has been captured and has fallen deeply in love with HIM"

"Worship is what we give our hearts away to in return for a promise of life"

"To pursue intimacy with Christ, you will have to fight for it"

Romance

So I was reading a pretty awesome chapter of Captivating, when it challenged me to ask this question..."JESUS how are YOU romancing me?"... This is a beautiful question.

So, If you are struggling with self worth loneliness, appearance, whatever it is. Looking at JESUS, and TRUTH about who you are to HIM, will differ from what you are currently letting the world tell you.

It's hard to remember and easy to forget. I KNOW. Ha. I do it all the time. Like ALL the time.
So...
I'm going to ask this question every night. And really think and answer it.
Because HE is showing HIS love for you specifically, open your eyes and look for it.

Let's be confident in our relationship with JESUS.

Wow

"What if the message delivered with your wounds simply isn't true about you?"
-captivating

In 2011...

I graduated high school.
Harry Potter ended.
I went to Haiti.
I turned 18.
I went on my very first date.
I started college at Simpson University.
My best friends had a baby girl and I love her so much.
UNITE
My aunt beat breast cancer.
ANTHEM got a new youth pastor.
New years was actually enjoyable.

Yah..these are some of the big things that happened this year.. But God did so much more, HE was present in so many of the things I don't even remember. Thankyou JESUS for the things I've forgotten and the things I'll never forget.

HE IS GOOD. NOTHINGS GUNNA TAKE HIS PRAISE OUTTA MOUTH.
bring it 2012.